Loom stopping means



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR;

A T TORNE Y April 8, '1958 K. E. SANDERSON ETAL LOOM STOPPING MEANS Filed Dec. 16. 1954 KENNETH E.SAuoz2.soN HARRISON N.THIBAULT IUPR/MVwmOOn/HMJUm H t. f\ f\ f 87 m m mm 2 3. 8 TWP: Q 3 eif mm 56 mmbzuu m 3 April 8, 1958 K. EJSANDERSON ETAL v 2,829,679

LOOM STOPPING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet z Filed Dec. 16. 1954 121 INVENTOR.

KENNETH E. SANDERSON Hmzmsou N.THIBAULT A TTORNEY' Ap l 8,1958 K. E. SANDERSON l-rrAL 2,829,679

LOOM STOPPING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 16. 1954 INVENTOR. KENNETH E. SANDERSON BY HARRISON NTHIBAULT ATTORNEY United States Patent 1.00M STOPPING MEANS Kenneth E. Sanderson and Harrison N. Thibault, Hopedale, Mass assignors to Draper Corporation, Hopedaie, Mass, a corporation of Maine Application December 16, 1954, Serial No. 475,3il8

17 Claims. (Cl. 139-336) This invention pertains to a stop motion for looms, and more particularly, to an electromechanical means by which all the stopping functions incidental to the loom operation are effected and in addition, the action of the fabric take-up temporarily suspended.

It is a general object of the invention to devise an electromechanical stop motion for looms which shall be simple, easily maintained and effective upon looms operated at speeds much higher than those currently employed.

A specific object of the invention is that of devising a novel, electromechanically operated filling sensing means which shall be capable of performing its function very rapidly and in precisely timed relation to the movement of other loom parts.

A further object is that of including within one comprehensive circuit, timing means, thread sensing devices, a so-called two-try stopping means and the means for suspending the take-up function or anti-take-up, as it will hereinafter be called.

It is a further object to devise stopping means of the type described in which all stops made, regardless of the reason for the stop, leave the mechanism safe, that is, incapable of restarting except by intended actuation of the shipper lever or other control means.

It is a further object to provide in a stop mechanism employing an electric circuit efficient and long lived units which require only low voltage current and wherein power consumption is small.

Another object is that of devising means of the type described in which the various electrical units are substantially enclosed and in which there is little chance of faulty operation due to lint collecting on contacts, vibration or premature wear of parts.

A further object is that of providing stopping means capable of easy and rapid adjustment to take care of timing the various functions as required when speed of the loom is very materially altered.

Gther objects will become apparent from the following disclosure.

Various stopping devices have been used or suggested for use in looms, some of purely mechanical type and others embodying parts electrically operated to a greater or lesser extent. Mechanical stop motions function well at lower speeds, but are subject to rather rapid wear and when operated at speeds considerably higher than those now employed commercially, may become less efficient and reliable.

Electrically operated motions have frequently been expensive initially, subject to being affected by vibration and lint, and have required high voltages or excessive current consumption. Heretofore, there have been no simple and inexpensive circuits in which all stopping means and other functions incident thereto have been integrated.

According to the invention hereinafter described in greater detail, a direct current circuit is provided in which a detent capable of being cammed to actuate mechanically 2,829,679 Patented Apr. 8, 1958 functioning stopping devices is held in an inactive position by an electromagnet. A warp stop motion forms a part of this magnetic holding circuit and upon failure of a warp thread diverts or shunts current from the magnet to release the detent,

A filling sensing means in the form of a tine or feeler is appropriately raised by a particular type of electromagnet and released in such properly timed sequence as to feel for the filling as it is laid in the shed and this sensing means may cause release of the detent by its holding magnet through points normally closed, but opened due to failure of the feeler to encounter filling in the normal way and also during such time as a set of timer points in parallel with those above mentioned are open. The latter are timed to be closed except during that interval when it is desiredthat the points at the sensing means Control to stop the loom if a filling fault is present.

Other timer points control the current to the electromagnet for the sensing or feeler means.

Normal loom operation involves stopping at indication of warp failure and usually at the first indication of a filling fault, but when weaving certain classes of less critical materials, it is possible to let the first imperfect pick go and to stop only if a second consecutive faulty pick is indicated. This, of course, applies only to that type of loom which will pick up and continue to weave after a faulty pick and under prescribed circumstances known to those skilled in this art. This latter situation makes use of a so-cailed two-try mechanism which, as herein contemplated, comprises a part of the circuit and integrated mechanical means including two sets of points in parallel, one of which is at the main relay and. the other a part of the timer mechanism. Normally, current flows through an electromagnet coil, a part of the two-try means, and through contacting points at the said relay to ground. When the loom is to operate on the two-try principle a third set of contacts at the timer is brought into the circuit.

A resetting means for the main relay includes a half wave rectifier and a circuit through one set of the timer points to ground, and such resetting means functions to pass current through the main relay solenoid to reset it while the points at the filling feeler are opene. This tends to happen at each pick when the two-try means is not used but is not needed then. When running two-try, this operation takes place after the first pick of a consecutive pair of faulty picks since the said extra points and circuit utilized then permits current to flow through the holding electromagnet to prevent loom stopping until the timer again closes that set of points in parallel with the points at the filling feeler or the latter are likewise closed.

At the second of a consecutive pair of faulty picks, the two-try portion of the timer opens the said third set of points thereat so that current ceases to flow at the holding magnet thereby stopping the loom.

At power failure the entire circuit is deenergized, and the loom stops. Since the detent through which stopping is effected cannot be reset except intentionally through use of the loom starting means, return of power only to the loom cannot result in starting.

At loom stopping for a faulty pick, the main relay is thrown out and the relay contacts are separated at that time with one exception. One set of contacts is closed grounding current passed through an anti take-up control, the function of which is to prevent take up for the next cycle by withdrawing the take-up ratchet pawl, or in some other manner preventing an advance movement of the device. The loom to which this type of stop motion is applied stops on the pick following that at whic a filling fault was actually indicated.

The invention will be described in greater detail by with major mechanical elements shown therein.

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing part of a loom lay and the filling feeler electromagnet and other means including points and adjusting means associated therewith.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the mechanism of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the electromagnet and associated parts which actuate the filling feeler.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a loom to which the invention is applied showing the knock-off means.

Fig. 6 is a left hand end view of the loom showing the anti take-up means.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a timer.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are perspective views of the timer disk and two-try mechanism, the parts being shown in different positions.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of part of the two-try means.

Figs. 12 and 1.3 show the two-try switch or points in closed and opened positions, respectively,

Now referring to Fig. l, the invention is shown more or less in its entirety by reference to the circuit within and as a part of which it is embodied. It is essentially a direct current circuit in which any suitable source of energy may be utilized; as a practical matter it is most convenient to employ the usual source of alternating current at the loom transformed to 12 volts for stop motion purposes and converted to direct current by a full wave rectifier or any other suitable means. Current output at the rectifier is taken off at lead 21 while its other side is grounded as at 22. Current as fed to the various elements in the circuit may be at about 10 volts.

First considering the knock-off portion of the circuit, a solenoid 23 is continuously energized while the loom is running to hold a detent 24 in a position in which it will not be engaged by a rotating or other moving member by means of which, when engaged, it will move other parts to stop the loom. Current is led to the solenoid through leads 25 and 26, a resistance with a thermal lag in the form of a lamp 27, leads 28 and 29. The solenoid circuit is completed through lead 30, contacts 31 and 32 of a main relay generally indicated by numeral 33, and ground 34.

This relay 33 is energized through coil 35 and its function will be developed more completely as the disclosure progresses. At this point it is sufiicient to say that as current is introduced to the circuit and the loom started, l

the relay points or contacts 31 and 32 are closed.

The knock-0E portion of the circuit also comprises the warp stop motion 36 grounded at 37 and of conventional type in that drop wires held by the warp ends may drop to complete the circuit to ground whenever an end fails.

This solenoid 23 is merely a holding magnet for the detent once the latter has been set, a function which must be accomplished by loom starting means such as the conventional shipper lever or other manually actuated member. Normally the current through the coil of the solenoid is just sufiicient for the purpose, so that upon grounding the warp stop motion 36, current is shunted through that part of the circuit and the accompanying voltage drop at the magnet 23 releases the detent. Resistance 27 of a type presenting a deterrent to rapid change of circuit conditions due to a pronounced thermal lag prevents too rapid action and false stops due to momentary contacts at the warp stop means 7 as when drop wires sway or in some other way ground the circuit unintendedly for an instant.

This part of the device is subject matter of a copending application Serial No. 336,280, filed February 11, 1953, now United States Patent 2,707,977, and need not be described to a greater extent at this point.

2,829,679 H M V The loorn is also provided for stopping when the filling fails and for purposes of sensing that failure, a detector is operated to feel for presence of the filling at a point along the lay, preferably at a mid point thereof so as to indicate if filling is not normally present as soon as is practicable. For this purpose an electromechanical means such as a rotary solenoid operates a tine or tines 38, Figs. 1, 2 and 3. A timer generally indicated by numeral 39, Fig. 1, is in circuit with the electromechanical means for periodically actuating the feeler and also a set of contact points which function therewith. The timer determines that part of the cycle during which the feeler shall function and also permits the feeler and the contact points controlled thereby to stop the loom at a predetermined part only of the cycle.

The feeler tine 38 is attached at the end of a spindle 40,'Fig. 4, which mounts base and coil retainer 41. A coil 42 is fixed on this retainer 41 and enclosed in a casing 43, the spindle borne in the base and extending at each end thereof has fixed to it a spiral or other spring S attached at its opposite end to the casing. This spring biases the spindle in a direction to move tine 38 down onto the filling and also endwise and toward the right in these figures at least enough the keep the parts tight. When coil 42 is energized it draws the rotatable part of the assembly to the right. At the same time a cam 'means of relatively frictionless type causes the spindle to rotate about more or less, depending upon design and requirements. The spindle has fixed thereto an armature comprised as a disk 44 and hub 44. This disk is deformed to provide angularly disposed members 45 behind which are recesses or ball races of progressively deepening extent. In the cooperating face 46 of the casing similar non-inclined races 47 are provided and balls 48 are retained in each. When the air gap is closed, and the spindle is drawn endwise, the cam action of the inclined races as they ride on the enclosed balls causes rotation to the extent permitted. Thus, each time coil 42 is energized, the spindle 4%) is moved endwise to the right and rotated against the tension of spring S to lift feeler tine 38.

This unit is enclosed within a casing 49, Fig. 2, which has a detachable cover 50 and which is in turn attached to the loom lay or other and appropriate part by screws 51, 52 passing through ears 53, 54 extending as a part of the casing. The only part of the unit not fully enclosed is the tine 38 and means by which it is fixed at the end of spindle 40. The tine is preferably curved as shown and functions in a notch or recess 55 in lay 56. A single-tine has been found to work satisfactorily, but, in instances, it may be more desirable to use a plurality of the same.

A set of contact points is also housed in this casing 49 and comprises a first point 57 on arm 58 and a second point 59 on arm 60. The first, as will be described, is connected in the circuit through the relay and timer while the second is grounded at 61, see Fig. 1.

Both points and arms are carried in insulation and are mounted in an adjustable bracket or arm 62 pivoted at 63 and capable of being adjusted through a small angular extent by screws 64 and 65, the ends of which bear against inclined surfaces at that extremity of arm 62. The swinging of the arm is utilized to set the gap of the points.

The points normally tend to he engaged by the resilience of the spring arms on which they are mounted, but arm is extended beyond the points to terminate in a button 66 aligned with the adjacent extending end of spindle 49. The arm 69 is of spring material and presses toward the spindle, out not with force enough to overcome the tension in spring S. As the spindle moves to the right under magnetic attraction of coil 4-2, the parts are rotated by cam action, the tine 38 being raised tensioning spring S and permitting the arm 60 to follow spindle 40 and close points 57 and 59 to complete the circuit through ground 61.

Upon deenergizing coil 42, the spring S will quickly rotate spindle 40 until tine 33 rests on the filling, assuming it to be present as intended. That much movement of the parts will not move the spindle axially sutficiently to open the points, but if filling is not present above notch 55, then the tine drops all the way and the cam action at disk 44 moves spindle 40 all the way to open the points 5'7 and 5%, thereby breaking the circuit as will presently be described. Of course, at beat-up the fillign moves out from under time 33, but opening the points 37, 39 at that time will not stop the loom.

Returning to Fig. l, coil 42 is fed through leads 67 to and 68 from the coil to one side of a set of points 69 and 70, the latter of which is grounded at 71. As long as these points are closed the circuit is complete and the time is either being raised or in raised position. Actually the points are opened and closed in timed relationship by a cam 72 on a rotor shaft 73. This cam makes one revolution each pick and the points are permitted to close from about 50250 of cam shaft travel to take as an example figures applying to an installation in a shuttleless loom of the type shown in United States Patent No. 2,604,123. Of course all figures herein are by way of example and not given as limitations of the device. As a practical matter the timing must be such as to raise the tine before passage of the filling inserting means and permit it to drop as soon as filling is laid past the feeler and the inserting means have been retracted.

Assuming the tine drops at about the 250 point, it will, in a practical example, rest on the filling, if present, for about 50, that is, from about 250 to 300 of of the cycle. If filling is not present as intended, it is desired that the circuit at solenoid 23 be broken. That is done primarily by opening the relay points 3. However, that cannot be done so long as points 57, 59 are closed or a second set of timer points are likewise closed. The circuit through the latter is from relay 33, the points 74 and "i5 thereat being closed to pass current through lead 76 to the junction 77 from which the line 78 may conduct to points 57, 59 and lead 79 to the points 80 and 8]. the latter of which is also grounded at 71. These constitute the said second set of points at the timer.

Inpractice, it is necessary to control the circuit through the relay 33 and incidentally energization of solenoid 23,'by points 57, 59 duringthe 250300 interval. If the tine 38 encounters no filling at that time it will drop to the bottom of the recess 55 and develop sufficient endwise motion of spindle 40 to open those points. At that time the cam 72 is so timed as to maintain points 80, 81 open also and thus the relay coil is deenergized and the loom is stopped. At the 300 point or thereabouts as required in any particular loom, the points 80, 81 close so the circuit through 71 is again established. That prevents stopping after the time 33 drops from the filling as it must at beat-up.

With the type of loom with which this stop motion is primarily adapted to function, the loom actually comes to rest about 360 after knockoff indication is given through the stop motion or on the next pick. It is thus desirable to suspend the fabric take-up function until the next good pick. To do that an anti take-up has been devised, the same being an integral part of the more comprehensive stopping circuit. This is the only part of the circuit which is closed when the remainder or at least a large part of the rest of the circuit is open 01' non-conducting.

Whenever relay 33 is thrown out of active position, all contacts therein are disengaged except the points or contacts 82 and 83 which are closed when the others open, and vice versa. That completes a circuit through conductor 84, coil 85, lead 86, and the points to ground 34 at the relay. Cell 85, Fig. 6, when energized, magass-ass netiZes armature 87 to draw an arm 88, a part of the stop pawl 89 pivoted at 90, to a position to disengage that pawl. The coil and armature are housed within a case 91 attached to the loomside or other fixed part.

The ratchet wheel 92 connected through a gear train to the take-up roll or the like, is advanced at each pick by feed pawl 93 pivoted at one arm of lever 94, the opposite arm of which is connected by link 95 to an eccentric or other operating means (not shown). When the stop pawl is raised, the feed pawl and wheel 92 merely oscillate ineifectively.

Now referring to Fig. 7, the timer is mounted on a metal disk 96 through a central bearing in which projects the shaft 73. This shaft is continuously rotated as the loom is operated being driven 1 to l with the cam shaft of the loom by any convenient interconnecting means. The cam denoted at 72 is actually made up of two parts, each alike, and superimposed to be clamped in position atthe end of the shaft by a retaining nut. The separate cam elements have slightly more than one-half their circumferences raised or lifting surfaces while the remainder is undercut for the follower to drop off to a lower position. By angular adjustment these cam sections can be set to open points 69, 70 at the desired time and to close them when necessary. l

At this point it is appropriate to note that the can is primarily adjusted to hold the points 69, 70 open as required to raise and drop the tine 38, while the position of the other set of points is such as to close them at the 300 point, by the example taken here. The fact that points 80, 81 need be open from 250300 in the cycle does not require them to open at the 250 point. They may be opened well in advance of that, so it becomes possible to use a single cam rather than independent cams. The physical structure at. the points is shown and comprises swinging support arms 97 and 98 pivoted at one end and capable of'being locked in position by screws passing through slots at their other ends. The movable points are carried by spring arms 99 and 100 insulated from the remainder of the unit and to which in each instance the hot side of the circuit is connected. The other points lead to ground.

The cam works against followers 101 and 102 of fiber or other suitable material mounted at the ends of springs and bearing against the arms 99 and 100. As the cam raises a follower to the part of its contour of greater radius, points are opened, and as the follower falls to the lower cam surface the points are closed. The disk 96 is itself grounded.

In the event the loom is to be operated on a two-try basis, a switch 103 is closed so as to bring a coil 104 into the circuit. As seen in Figs. 8-13 the timer disk :96 and shaft 73 have other elements attached at the side opposite that to which the points and cam are fixed. These parts serve the purpose of stopping the loom. when operated on the two-try basis.

The coil 104 at the timer side of the disk functions to magnetize a combined magnet and cam 105 which is at the two-try or back side thereof. This coil is connected in circuit by leads 106 and 107, Fig. 1, the latter of which attaches to ground 34 through points 82, 83 in the main relay 33. As before noted, these points close whenever the relay is thrown out or when its remaining contacts are opened.

An arm 108, Figs. 8-13, is clamped to shaft 73 and at its free end a pin 109 with head 110 and retaining washer 111 is free to slide in toward magnet cam 105 or out to a position to clear the cam. The unit is operated with the disk in a vertical position so that the pin tends to remain in whatever position it occupies except that it is cammed out (full lines) by cam 105 every revolution of the arm, if not already in that position and, if the magnet is energized will. be drawn by the receding end 112 thereof to the inner position (dot-and-dash lines) Fig. 11.

Whenever the pin is pulled in by the magnet it engages pick.

the inside surface of a bowed switch operating arm 113 pivoted at 114. The free end of this arm 113 is normally held against a stop 115, a part of a guide 116, the part 117 of which serves as at protecting and restraining member.

This operating arm 113 when pressed radially outwardly, actuates a microswitch 118 to break contact between its points 119 and 120 which are normally spring pressed into engagement. This is a standard microswitch mounted on the disk 96 by means of an insulated base 121, current coming to the switch by lead 122, Fig. 1, as switch 103 is closed, and grounding through contact 120 and the remainder of the mechanism to complete the circuit. Thus whenever switch 103 is closed, solenoid 23 cannot be deenergized except by breaking circuit through the microswitch as in Fig. 13. That is done by arm 108, pin 109 and arm 113 as will be explained. Of course, points 80, 81 and 57, 59 must also be opened at the same time.

To explain the operation of the device during a cycle of two faulty picks when operating two-try, it is to be assumed that the switch 103 is closed. At about 50 of cam shaft travel the points 69, 70 close and the time 38 is lifted. At about 250 the points open and the tine drops and if there is no contact on a properly laid pick of filling, it falls into the recess 55 opening points 57, 59 to break that part of the circuit. Points 80, 81 are also open at that time so stopping may have resulted if not under a two-try setting. However, since current has been admitted to microswitch 118, it may ground through the disk to complete the circuit in the knock-off relay and the loom will not stop, although the relay 33 does drop out.

Furthermore, on that pick as the relay drops out, the anti take-up circuit acts to prevent the fabric take-up from functioning and magnet 105 became energized. As the pin and arm 108, Figs. 8-13, pass off cam end 112 slightly after the 300 point in that cycle it is pulled out and further rotation on the next pick will cause its head 110 to engage arm 113 and to open the microswitch.

On the next pick (second pick of the two) the relay is automatically reset. A unidirectional circuit from the relay coil 35, Fig. 1, to the line 68 has therein a single plate selenium rectifier 122 or equivalent means. This functions in the circuit for coil 42 so that as points 69, 70 close at 50 of travel of parts in pick #2, current flows through coil 35, rectifier 122, lead 68 and points 69, 70 to ground along with current which would normally pass through the coil 42 at that time. Current cannot reverse its direction through the reset circuit which, of course, may function at each pick but is of no effect since the relay is normally set and the majority of current through coil 35 passes through the relay points themselves.

Continuing with this second pick, the time is again raised and falls to open points 57, 59 if filling is still absent. The relay 33 drops out energizing the anti take-up circuit and magnet 105. However, arm 113 and pin 109 are approaching the microswitch actuator arm, the pin still being pulled to active position by its setting on pick #1. At a point about at 250 of the second pick cycle the points 119, 120 of the switch open and, since points 57, 59 and 80, 81 are also open at that time the circuit to relay 23 fails and the loom must stop.

If the second pick of the cycle had not been faulty, then the same sequence of operation would have taken place except that the time would not have descended to a point where axial movement of the spindle 40 would have opened the points 57, 59 prior to closing the timer points 80, 81, thus there would have been no possibility of the loom stopping even though the microswitch was opened.

it is to be noted that the loom is affected in the case of stops due to faulty filling in such manner that the indication taken on the first pick of a two pick cycle is not translated into a complete alteration of the circuit such as will stop the loom until the second successive faulty If the second pick is not faulty, the loom con- 8 tinues since the indication and extent to which parts may be affected thereby is negatived before the action progresses to stopping.

In Fig. 5, the knock-off means including solenoid 23 and detent 24 also comprises a rotating disk 123 at the end of cam shaft 124 and a cam 125 fixed to the periphery of the disk in position to strike the detent if released by the solenoid. When that occurs, the arm 126 is swung about pivot 127 and the detent pushed against a stop 128 on a link 129 thereby moving the link to knock-off the loom by means described in the patent above noted. While that is specific to releasing a clutch and applying a brake of a particular type, it is to be understood that the release of the detent or equivalent means may function to stop the loom by appropriately affecting other and similar means. i

In case of power failure, the entire circuit goes dead and detent 24, thus released, will knock off the loom which will coast far enough so that there must be a posi tive actuation of link 129 or some member of similarly intended function.

In practice the loom starting lever or other means for the purpose is connected for actuation of the link 129, for raising detent 24 and to set relay 33.

The invention is particularly applicable to looms of the type to which reference is made, but it is to be understood that the actual physical characteristics of the loom may vary widely and that the stop motion and allied parts may be suitably modified to be successfully applied thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as herein set forth. While a center fork is preferably used to sense the presence of the filling, that particular means may be applied elsewhere, for example at a point to contact the filling at one or both ends.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a loom stop motion having knock-o1? means including a holding magnet and a member controlled thereby, said magnet comprising part of a circuit to which current is fed through a relay, means to trip said relay and break said circuit to release the member and stop the loom upon filling failure which comprises two sets of breaker points in parallel in circuit with the energizing coil of said relay, a filling thread sensing means, timer means for opening one set of said points while the said sensing means is in filling feeling position, and means forming a part of said sensing means effective upon indication of filling failure, to open the other of said sets of points while the first set is open, thereby to break the circuit through said relay coil.

2. In a loom stop motion having knock-off means including a detent and a holding magnet in a circuit to which current is fed through a relay, means to trip said relay and break said circuit to release the detent and stop the loom upon filling failure which comprises two sets of breaker points in parallel in a circuit with the energizing coil of said relay, a filling thread sensing means, timer means for opening one set of said points while the said sensing means is in filling feeling position, said sensing means further being effective upon indication of a filling fault to open the other of said sets of points while the first mentioned set is open, thereby to break the circuit through said relay coil.

3. In a loom stop motion having knock-off means including a detent and a holding magnet in a circuit to which current is fed through a relay, means to trip said relay and break said circuit to release the detent and stop the loom upon filling failure which comprises two sets of breaker points in parallel in a circuit with the energizing coil of said relay, a filling thread sensing means comprising a filling feeling tine and electrically operated means for periodically raising said tine and releasing it to sense the presence or absence 'of the filling, timer means for Opening one set of said points while said tine is in filling feeling position, and means forming a part of said sensing means effective upon indication of filling failure, to open the other of said sets of points while thefirst set is cpen, thereby to break the circuit through said relay CO1 c 4. In a loom stop motion having knock-off means including a detent and aholding magnet in a circuit to which current is fed through a relay, means to trip said relay and break said circuit to release the detent and stop the loom upon filling failure which comprises two sets of breaker points in parallel in a circuit with the energizing coil of said relay, a filling thread sensing means comprising a filling feeling tine and means for periodically raising said tine and releasing it to sense the presence or absence of the filling, which comprises a solenoid with means forming a part thereof for converting axial movement of an armature into a rotary movement for said tine, timer means for opening one set of said points while said tine is in filling feeling position, and means by which a return axial movement of said solenoid parts is effective for opening the other of said sets of points upon indication of filling failure, while the first set is open, thereby to break the circuit through said relay coil.

5. In a loom stop motion having knock-off means including a holding magnet and a member controlled thereby, said magnet comprising part of a circuit to which current is fed through a relay, a source of current and a circuit through said relay for energizing said holding magnet, means comprising two sets of breaker points in parallel in said circuit for causing said relay to open and break the circuit through said holding magnet, timer means for determining the position of one set of said points and an electrically operated filling sensing means for determining the position of the other of said sets of points, said electrically operated filling sensing means comprising periodically energized means within said circuit and controlled by said timer means.

6. In a loom stop motion having knock-off means including a holding magnet and a member controlled thereby, said magnet comprising part of a circuit to which current is fed through a relay, a source of current and a circuit through said relay for energizing said holding magnet, means comprising two sets of breaker points in parallel in said circuit for causing said relay to open and break the circuit through said holding magnet, timer means for determining the position of one set of said points and an electrically operated filling sensing means for determining the position of the other of said sets of points, said electrically operated filling sensing means comprising a solenoid and means forming a part thereof for converting axial movement of an armature as influenced by an energized coil, to rotary movement for raising a filling feeling member and means in said circuit including the said timer for determining that part of a cycle during which the sensing means shall be energized.

7. In a loom stop motion having a knock-off means including a holding magnet and a member controlled thereby, a circuit including said magnet and a relay and filling sensing means, the circuit for energizing said relay having therein means for breaking that circuit and a filling sensing means for transmitting an indication of filling condition to said means for causing it to break the circuit as required which comprises a filling contacting tine, a spindle to which said tine is fixed, an armature on said spindle and a coil for drawing said armature and spindle axially, cam means for converting said axial movement to a rotary one and a circuit including timing means for energizing said coil.

8. In a loom stop motion having a knock-off means including a holding magnet and a member controlled thereby, a circuit including said magnet and a relay and filling sensing means, the circuit for energizing said relay having eachpick of the loom for closing said points when and for such period of time as the tine is to be raised.

9. In a loom the combination of a stop motion with a loom knock-off means, a fabric take-up means and an electrical circuit of which said stop motion and knock-off means form a part, a relay in said circuit and means for sensing a filling fault and for breaking the circuit through said relay at such fault to stop the loom, and other means forming a part of the circuit with said relay energized upon the dropping out of the relay at filling failure for suspending the action of the fabric take-up means.

10. Mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein said fabric take-up means includes a pawl and. ratchet wheel drive with a stop pawl, and said means for causing the take-up action to be suspended comprises a solenoid energized at opening the stop motion circuit through the relay and acting uponthe stop pawl to disengage it from the ratchet wheel.

11. In a loom stop motion having knock-off means including a holding magnet and a member controlled thereby, said magnet comprising part of a circuit to which current is fed through a relay, means to trip said relay and break said circuit to release the member and stop the loom upon filling failure which comprises two sets of breaker points in parallel in circuit with the energizing coil of said relay, a filling thread sensing means, timer means for opening one set of said points while the said sensing means is in filling feeling'position, and means forming a part of said sensing means effective upon indication of filling failure, to open the other of said sets of points while the first set is open, thereby to break the circuit through said relay coil and means for permitting the loom to continue running after indication and tripping of the relay on the first of a pair of consecutive faulty picks and for stopping at the second of those picks which comprises a third set of contacts connected in circuit with the holding magnet at the knock-off means, means functioning in synchronism withthe timer means for opening said third set of contacts on the second only of two successive faulty picks.

12; In a loom stop motion having knock-01f means including a holding magnet and a member controlled thereby, said magnet comprising part of a circuit to which current is fed through a relay, means to trip said relay and break said circuit to release the member and stop the loom upon filling failure which comprises two sets of breaker points in parallel in circuit with the energizing coil of said relay, a filling thread sensing means, timer means for opening one set of said points while the said sensing means is in filling feeling position, and means forming a part of said sensing means effective upon indication of filling failure, to open the other of said sets of points while the first set is open, thereby to break the circuit through said relay coil and means for permitting the loom to continue running after indication and tripping of the relay on the first of a pair of consecutive faulty picks and for stopping at the second of those picks which comprises a third set of contacts selectively connectable in parallel with the first two sets of breaker points and in' circuit with the holding magnet so that the loom may be stopped by releasing the member held thereby only when all three sets of contacts are simultaneously open, and means functioning in synchronism 1 1 with the timer means for opening said third set of contacts on the second only of two successive faulty picks.

13. Mechanism as defined in claim 12, wherein a means comprising a unidirectional circuit is provided for passing current through the relay coil to reset it at the start of the next pick after a pick on which an indication of faulty filling has caused the relay to drop out when operating on a two-try system.

14. Mechanism as defined in claim 12, wherein a means comprising at least one rectifier plate is provided in a circuit through the relay coil for passing current through that coil to reset the relay at the start of the next picks after a pick on which an indication of faulty filling has caused the relay to drop out when operating on a twotry system. 7

15. In a loom stop "motion having knock-off means including a holding magnet and a member controlled thereby, said magnet comprising part of a circuit to which current is fed through a relay, means to trip said relay and break said circuit to release the member and stop the loom upon filling failure which comprises two sets of breaker points in parallel in circuit with the energizing coil of said relay, a filling thread sensing means, timer meansfor opening one set of said points while the said sensing means is in filling feeling position, and means forming a part of said sensing means effective upon indication of filling failure, to open the other of said sets of points while the first set is open, thereby to break the circuit through said relay coil and means for operating the loom on a two-try basis which comprises a third set of contacts in circuit with the holding'magnet, said contacts being normally closed to complete a circuit through ground so long as a selectively operable switch for said circuit is in conducting position, a magnet-cam energized whenever the relay is tripped, a normally inactive member carried past sad magnet-cam in timed sequence at each pick, said member being positioned by said magnet-cam for engagement with a means for opening said third set of contacts, the timing of said means being such that the member is positioned by the magnet-cam on the first of a successive pair of faulty picks and is active on the second of said pair of picks to open said points,

16. In an electrically operated stop motion for looms having a lay, a recess in said lay and a filling sensing tine movable into said recess and means for periodically raising said time and dropping it to feel for presence or abbiasing the spindle and tine in a direction-to drop the tine and means for translating axial motion of the parts into rotary motion against said spring which comprises a cam means in the form of ball races in said casing and armature, balls carried therein, those races in one mem ber beingformed to progressively greater depth in the direction of rotation to raise the tine.

17. In an electrically operated stop motion for looms having a lay, a recess in said lay and a filling sensing tine movable into said recess and means for periodically raising said tine and dropping it to feel for presence or absence of filling which comprises a spindle to one end of which said tine is fixed, a casing in which said spindle is rotatably mounted, a coil in said casing and an armature fixed to said spindle and capable of being drawn endwise with it when the coil is energized, a spring normally biasing the spindle and tine in a direction to drop the tine and means for translating axial motion of the parts into rotary motion against said spring which comprises a cam means in the form of ball races in said casing and armature, balls carried therein, those races in one member being formed to progressively greater depth in the direction of rotation to raise the tine, contact points for affecting a stop motion circuit, arms to which said points are atfixed and means on one arm aligned with said spindle to be moved by axial motion thereof to control the relationship of the points.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,146,611 Young Feb. 7, 1939 2,461,493 Clentimack Feb. 8, 1949 1 2,600,667 Mason June 17, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 889,879 Germany Sept. 14, 1953 928,839 France June 16, 1947 

